Dowek calls for national unity and criticizes upcoming fall conference

3 September 2007

Dr. Aziz Dowek, the president of the Palestinian legislative council, issued a statement on Monday urging the Palestinian President to fulfill the demands of the Palestinians people and commit to the National Unity agreement.

Commenting on the upcoming Middle–East peace conference, proposed by US President George Bush, Dr. Dowek said that the meeting will not be useful, and that nothing of any meaning will be gained by the Palestinians.

Dr. Dowek, who is currently being held in an Israeli detention camp, condemned the Ramallah government’s refusal to pay Hamas-affiliated employees their salaries, and for attacking Hamas fighters in the West Bank, arguing that the Palestinian factions should work for unity.

Of the actions taken by the appointed Palestinian government of Salam Fayyad, Dr. Dowek branded them as illegal, arguing that they must be passed by the PLC before they can be enacted.

Regarding Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas decision to change the voting system, Dr. Dowek stated that the PLC is the only institution which can make such a change, and that the president cannot by-pass its sovereignty.

Translated